Stay SHARP Spring 2024
Contents
Look To The Sky
The Eyes Have It
Safe Steps
Get In The Zone
Safety Calendar
LOOK TO THE SKY
As April 8, 2024 approaches, it is crucial for workplaces across Indiana to take proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of their employees. While this celestial event promises awe-inspiring views, it also presents many unique challenges, especially concerning workplace safety. It is easy to get caught up in the hype around the event, but employers may not realize there are some inherent risks for something like a total solar eclipse that extend far beyond just the event itself.
With thousands of sky-watchers expected to flock to prime viewing locations across the state, employers must anticipate potential disruptions to normal traffic patterns and increased congestion on roadways. With the peak viewing time for the April 8th eclipse being around 3:00 PM, there could be significant delays for employees commuting to and from work. Employers should encourage flexibility regarding work hours or telecommuting options to minimize the impact of traffic disruptions on productivity. Some schools who would otherwise have bus drivers on the road during peak viewing have opted for e-learning days or extended eclipse viewing hours at the school.
Along with increased traffic on the roads, the surge in visitors during the solar eclipse may strain public resources such as emergency services, medical facilities, and public utilities. It is essential for employers to be proactive in assessing their workplace’s needs and collaborating with local authorities to ensure adequate support and resources are available in case of emergencies. Employers should also develop contingency plans to address potential disruptions to essential services such as transportation and communication.
Law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and emergency medical services will play pivotal roles in managing the influx of visitors and ensuring public safety during the solar eclipse. Employers should familiarize themselves with local emergency response protocols and establish communication channels with relevant authorities. Additionally, employers should educate employees about emergency procedures and evacuation routes to follow in the event of an emergency.
While witnessing a total solar eclipse is a rare and captivating experience, it is crucial to prioritize eye safety. Employers should remind employees to use 12312-2 certified solar viewing glasses or other approved viewing devices to protect their eyes from harmful solar radiation during the eclipse. It takes only a few seconds of staring directly into the sun to cause irreversible eye damage. Providing adequate eye protection and educating employees about the risks of looking directly at the sun without proper safeguards can help ensure a safe viewing experience.
The April 8th total solar eclipse presents both opportunities and challenges for workplaces in Indiana. By proactively addressing potential risks and implementing safety measures, employers can ensure the well-being of their employees and minimize disruptions to business operations. Collaboration with local authorities and effective communication will be key to ensuring a safe viewing event for all.
THE EYES HAVE IT
Spring is finally here, and the first blooms of the season are starting to make an appearance. With so much to see and experience with the change of season, it is important to take time to consider eye health and wellness. March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month, making it a great time to review how you can protect yourself and your eyesight.
Digital eye strain can be common among office and remote workers, and can cause symptoms such as tired, burning, or itching eyes, dry eyes, blurred vision, and headache. To reduce digital eye strain, workers can:
- Place your screen 20-26 inches away, and a little below eye level.
- Adjust the lighting on your screen and in your room to reduce glare and increase contrast.
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule, where every 20 minutes look 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
- Consider using computer glasses that block blue light and reduce eye strain.
- Break up long sedentary periods with breaks such as a stretch break or walk.
- Use eye drops to help with dry eyes.
For workers in other environments like construction and manufacturing, eye injuries are typically a result of hazards such as flying or falling objects, tools, chemicals, and/or particles and sparks. In these workplaces, proper eye protection is paramount, and must be provided by employers when hazardous conditions exist. Safety eyewear includes non-prescription and prescription safety glasses, goggles, face shields, welding helmets, and full-face respirators. For more information on eye health and wellness, visit Prevent Blindness.org . For questions about eye safety in the workplace, contact INSafe at insafe@dol.in.gov or visit https://www.osha.gov/eye-face-protection.
SAFE STEPS
Safe Ladder Use —DO:
* Maintain a 3-point contact (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand) when climbing/ descending a ladder.
* Face the ladder when climbing up or descending.
* Keep the body inside the side rails.
* Use extra care when getting on or off the ladder at the top or bottom. Avoid tipping the ladder over sideways or causing the ladder base to slide out.
* Never carry tools in your hands while climbing up/down a ladder.
* Keep ladders free of any slippery materials.
* Extend the top of the ladder three feet above the landing.
Safe Ladder Use—DO NOT:
* Place a ladder on boxes, barrels, or unstable bases.
* Use a ladder on soft ground or unstable footing.
* Exceed the ladder’s maximum load rating.
* Tie two ladders together to make them longer.
* Ignore nearby overhead power lines.
* Move or shift a ladder with a person or equipment on the ladder.
* Lean out beyond the ladder’s side rails.
* Use an extension ladder horizontally like a platform
GET IN THE ZONE
It is a long-running joke that Indiana should change its state flower to the orange construction barrel. As sure as spring brings drizzling rain, greening grass, and blooming flowers, it also harkens the beginning of roadway construction season. The scopes and durations of these projects vary greatly, with some taking only a few hours and others lasting several years.
Work zones are areas of roadways where construction, maintenance, or utility work activities are taking place. Often, work zones often involve a detour, lane closure, or pause from the normal flow of traffic which causes confusion and frustration to drivers. Failures to set up work zones properly can lead to accidents and even fatalities. Nationally, there are more than 600 work-related fatalities and 40,000 injuries each year related to crashes in work zones.
OSHA requires that employers follow Part 6 of the Manual On Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) when establishing a work zone for the protection of employees working in the work zone as well as to inform the public of actions which need to be taken to travel through a work zone. The MUTCD prescribes standards for the design, application, installation, and maintenance of traffic control devices previously mentioned which are used during construction, maintenance, and utility work operations on all roadways used for public travel.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for setting up work zones, but employers must ensure appropriate traffic controls are developed, implemented, and installed properly at all work zones. Work zones must be marked by signage alerting drivers to the upcoming hazard. Some work zones may also include other traffic control devices such as barriers, channeling or transition devices, vehicles with strobe lights, arrow boards, and even flaggers.
Employer’s responsibilities include:
- Ensuring that appropriate traffic controls are developed, implemented, and installed at all work zones;
- Training workers in the traffic control plans developed and on the requirements of proper traffic control devices, including flagging operations, as outlined in the MUTCD
- Evaluating the effectiveness of the temporary traffic control on a regular basis, updating and monitoring work zone setup and changes throughout the course of the work;
- Ensuring reverse signal alarms are in operating condition on all equipment within a work zone;
- Providing proper PPE to all employees including the correct high visibility clothing for the roadway involved
Employees can do their part by doing the following:
- Wear high-visibility safety apparel anytime they are exposed to vehicle traffic
- Be aware of moving equipment within a work zone and never operate equipment without making positive visual contact with workers on foot near the equipment
- Perform pre-shift inspections on equipment, set parking brakes when leaving equipment unattended
- Wear seat belts when operating equipment, report any deficiencies in the temporary traffic control setup they observe
- Be cognizant of moving traffic and construction equipment in and through a work zone.
Motorists must use caution when approaching and riving through a work zone. Wear your seat/safety belts. Avoid using cell phones and other movile devices while driving, and never text and-and-drive. Do not tailgate. Allow extra time for travel and expect delays. Plan alternative routes of travel in known work zone areas. Watch for signage, anticipate
As the orange barrels begin to sprout in the coming months, please keep safety in mind.
SAFETY CALENDAR
April 2024